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The Music Box's Future in City Park

The schedule of events in the musical architecture installation includes talks, walks, and a special performance during Jazz Fest.

[Updated] Two weeks ago, I wrote about the opening of The Music Box’s Roving Village: City Park here and here. It will remain in place and open through May 9, with additional performances, artist talks, and free play in the houses. On Friday, April 24 at 8:30 p.m., The Music Box will host a special performance with Dustin Louque, Music Box veterans Quintron, Luke Winslow-King, and Rob Cambre, and “headlining Jazz Fest musicians,” according to the Music Box press release. The Jazz Fest musicians will not be announced until the day of the show. Tickets are on sale now.

The Music Box is located on Harrison Avenue in City Park about a hundred yards or so off of Wisner Drive, and it will host the following schedule of talks:

Sunday April 19: “Can I Eat That?”
Plants and Herbs of City Park, A Walking Discussion with Jen Stovall & Rachael Reeves of Maypop Herb Shop. To attend their plant walk from 4-6 p.m., you can register here: http://www.maypopherbshop.com

Sunday April 26: “How Does it Come Together?”
Cross Disciplinary Collaborations—The Creative Processes, Risks and Journey-making
Moderated by Rick Snow
Yotam Haber, Composition Professor at UNO
Kiel Moe, Harvard professor of Architecture
Anna Haber, Visual Artist
Josh Wolf Shenk, Writer and Curator

Sunday May 3: “What is Going to Happen?”
Our installation in City Park is built to respond to the natural environment. But what are other responses to the state of Louisiana wetlands?
Speakers include:
Bob Marshall, Journalist
Moose Jackson, Artist & Activist
Mike Stagg, Executive Director at Free Louisiana, Inc.


Sunday May 10: “How Did You Make That?”
Some of the artists of the Music Box Roving Village reflect on the creation of the their works, what they learned in the process and other funny, shocking and erudite discussions.
Speakers include:
Delaney Martin, Artistic Director of New Orleans Airlift & ArtistTaylor Lee Shepherd, Music Box Civil Engineer and Artist
Ross Harmon, Builder, Luthier, & Artist
Darryl Reeves, Master Blacksmith & Artist
Andrew Schrock, Artist
Michael Glenboski, Architect & Artist
Rick Snow, Artist
Nina Nichols, Artist
Plus musicians from the Roving Village Orchestra

The Music Box Roving Village: City Park is open for the public to explore and play on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. except on April 24, May 8 and May 9.

Updated April 16, 4:01 p.m.

Organizers have added a show and announced the conductor for the final weekend's concerts. On Friday, April 29, New Orleans Airlift will host a benefit show to support Airlift's programming with members of the Preservation Hall musical family and Lost Bayou Ramblers in the musical houses. Chefs from across the city will provide food and drinks for the evening, and Music Box collaborator Swoon will auction off a work of art. Tickets for the evening are $100 and are on sale now.

Tickets are not yet on sale for the May 8 and 9 closing weekend performances, nor have the performers been named, but the conductor will be Arto Lindsay, whose interest in adventurous music dates back at least to his work in no wave band DNA in New York in the 1970s. Over the years, Lindsay has become better known for his interest in Tropicalia and the Brazilian artists who were a part of that movement--Caetano Veloso and Tom Ze.